congregation sha’arai shomayim founded 1844 springhill...
TRANSCRIPT
VOLUME 57 EDITION 6
1 February 2015
12 Shevat 5775
Congregation Sha’arai Shomayim Founded 1844
Springhill Avenue Temple
The Temple Bulletin
springhillavenuetemple.com
We are coming together as a caring, inclusive community united in a common commitment to Judaism and to
furthering our spiritual growth. We desire to do this recognizing that worship of God, study of Torah, caring for the
Jewish people and our community, are central to our being as a Reform Jewish congregation. With these principles
as our foundation and guided by a historic past, we anticipate our future, one of continual lifelong self-renewal.
RELIGIOUS SERVICES
Friday, February 6 6:00 p.m. Tu B’Shevat Service
Cantor is with us
Saturday, February 7 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast
10:30 a.m. Morning Shabbat Service
Friday, February 13 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service
with the Congregational Choir
Friday, February 20 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service
Friday, February 27 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service
Torah Selection:
Exodus 18:1 – 20:23
Haftarah – Isaiah 6:1 – 7:6; 9:5-6
ALL SHABBAT SERVICES ARE CONGREGATIONAL SERVICES.
PLEASE JOIN US IN WORSHIP
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FROM THE RABBI
e have just read the Torah portion that
contains the Song of Moses, which is a part
of our regular prayer service. You will
immediately recognize the words: “ Mi Chamocha
Be Elim” … who is like you among the gods that
are worshipped.
We sing and pray these words so often that
seldom do we stop to think what they mean. Who
“does wonder” the prayer says and not “did
wonder”, to teach of God’s imminence in our
lives. The prayer cites some of the wonders from
God: majestic in holiness, awesome in splendor,
our redeemer. How seldom do we stop to
consider all the things God does for us!
When gratitude for all God gives us stops, room is
given for entry of cynicism. And when we
become tainted with cynicism, holistic faith can
crumble.
How can we bring a sense of awe and wonder
back into our lives and the lives of our loved
ones? We show interest in our children’s progress
in algebra, should we not also show the same
interest in our children’s spiritual progress? Much
of the next generation’s spiritual future might be
in our hands, if we can honestly commit ourselves
to our faith and convey those emotions to them.
Awe and wonder can be recreated in our lives if
we are not too ashamed to talk about it. Talking
about the wonder of God is the last taboo left
today in our free society. Every prurient topic can
all be heard on television any time of day, but
sharing our feelings about the power of God is
looked at as being inappropriate except for
fundamentalist Christians. How odd that is.
Who is like you God, doing wonders? Why not
consider that question and discuss it with those
you love.
Rabbi Donald M. Kunstadt
Sign up for the Best Summer of your Life
at Henry S. Jacobs Camp!
Programs for Every Child
Scholarships Available for First-Time
and Continuing Campers
Plan now for a great Summer Experience! Due
to the generosity of an anonymous donor,
Temple youth will be able to receive a $1,000
incentive grant for Camp tuition for first-time
campers and $500 for continuing campers.
These funds are in addition to the first time
campers scholarship program of $1,000 from the
Goldring Family Foundation.
Contact Henry S. Jacobs Camp, 3863 Morrison Road, Utica, MS, (601) 885-6042,
fax: (601) 885-6269, Website: jacobs.urjcamps.org
W
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FROM OUR PRESIDENT
t is interesting how things play out. About a
year ago I was informing you of the status of
our Tornado Repair Project and remarked on
the hours spent by concerned congregant
volunteers. The funny thing is that it all
involved negotiations and planning with very
little direct material repair work. Today, a year
later, we are almost finished with the
construction…ah, the smells, sounds, and
sights of work in progress. I have learned, through experience, that we
have members who are people that truly care
about our Temple, it’s about service above self.
We lost the presence of Maury Friedlander,
who was involved in the negotiation part of our
repairs, a person whose advice was as solid as
the ground we stand on. He would have
appreciated where we are today. I have learned
that through planning and consensus, a group
of a few can accomplish a lot. So what is my message? It is one we can apply
to all of the challenges we face at Springhill
Avenue Temple and anywhere else. Involve
people who care, make a plan, do the work and
stay the course. Virtually anything that
concerned people can visualize can be
accomplished.
Alan Goldberg, President
The Rabbi Search Committee – Update
From Committee Chair, Aaron Solomon
I am writing to update the Congregation regarding the search for our new Rabbi. The Committee
has been busy reviewing résumés of prospective Rabbi’s, a total of nine (9) in all, including three
(3) students that will be ordained this spring. The Committee seems to be functioning well and
we are certainly gaining an education in the search process (this week we had a conference via
Skype with Rabbi Alan Henkin of the CCAR regarding the search process). These are very
exciting times for our Congregation and we look forward to interviewing prospective Rabbis in
the very near future. I will update you further very soon. Regards,
Aaron Solomon
Come Visit your Temple Gift Shop We have all of your gift and holiday needs Jewelry Mezuzahs Gifts for the Home Plus much, much more!
Please shop us FIRST for better prices and no tax/shipping additional costs!
I
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FROM OUR ARCHIVES
By Susan Thomas, Archivist
he Archives was recently contacted by
Laurence Jacob, Senior Curator of the
History Museum of Mobile. Jacob is working
on a project regarding Mobile’s involvement
in World War I. He is specifically interested
in information on Esau Frohlichstein, a young
congregant who was one of 17 American
seamen killed in the Battle of Vera Cruz
during the Mexican Civil War in 1914. This
war was considered a prelude to the beginning
of the World War I. Esau was stationed on the U.S.S. New
Hampshire when the fighting broke out at
Vera Cruz. The night before he died he wrote
a poignant letter to his parents which seemed
to predict his imminent death. Hailed as a
hero, Esau’s funeral procession from City
Hall to the Temple was attended by thousands
of Mobilians. He was buried in the Temple
cemetery and the entire contents of the letter
he wrote to his parents the night before his
death was inscribed on his tombstone. Esau was the son of Nathan H. Frohlichtstein,
who, along with his brother, owned the
Frohlichstein Cigar Company, a prominent
Mobile business in the late 1800s. Esau’s
sister, Lillian, married Ralph Gans Holberg.
Their son was Ralph Holberg, Jr., wife of the
Temple’s Mimi Holberg and father of Ralph
Holberg, III and Bob Holberg. Members of the Frohlichstein family were
among the earliest Temple congregants. Hirsh
Frohlichstien and Sarah Loeb (also spelled
Leib in early records) were the first couple
married in the Temple. Married on July 24,
1847, they were “the first couple to be
married in the first synagogue of the first
congregation by the first rabbi in the state of
Alabama,” stated Robertk Zietz in his history
of the congregation. The large ebony doors at
the entrance of the Temple’s sanctuary were
dedicated in memory of Hirsh and Sarah
Frohlictstein by their great-granddaughter and
her husband. Although the Frohlicstein name figured
prominently in Temple history for several
generations, no known Frohlicsteins are
currently residing in Mobile.
70th Anniversary
of the Liberation of Auschwitz
Tuesday, February 24, 7 p.m.
Bernheim Hall at the Ben May Main Library,
701 Government Street
The Gulf Coast Holocaust Center, the Mobile Christian-Jewish Dialogue, and the Mobile Public
Library will present a commemoration of the 70th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz.
Mayor Sandy Stimpson will present a proclamation honoring Mobilian and Auschwitz survivor,
Agnes Tennenbaum. Ms. Tennenbaum will offer a brief description of her experiences at
Auschwitz, along with the history and significance of Auschwitz for Jews, and the challenge of
Auschwitz to Christians. A reception will follow. For more information, please visit the Gulf
Coast Holocaust Center’s website at gcholocaustcenter.org
T
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CONTRIBUTIONS
In honor of Rabbi Kunstadt’s service to the Springhill Avenue Temple congregation for the
past 28 years – The Rosenbaum family of Chappaqua, New York.
In honor of Carlie Gotlieb’s engagement (Sandra & Harvey’s granddaughter) –
Iris & Nate Ginsberg
In honor of Lowell Friedman’s birthday – Iris & Nate Ginsberg, Susan and Louis Good
In loving memory of my father, Lt. Col. Neil Levin (Ret. USMC) – Debbie Clolinger
In memory of Carolyn Metzger – Lila Kogan and family
In memory of Leon Mishkin – Alain & Gary Gamble
In memory of Marcus Cecil Pierce – Mark Gilberstadt
In memory of Tini Appelman – Joyce & Gerard Toubiana, Alain & Gary Gamble
In memory of Harry Kogon – Lila Kogon
In memory of Al and Molly Kahn – Martha & G.B. Kahn
In memory of Carolyn Metzger – Linda & Eddie Blassingame, Alain & Gary Gamble
In memory of Helen Heffler Silverman – Alain & Gary Gamble
In memory of Arthur Prince – Venetia Prince
Donations and Account Payments
to Springhill Avenue Temple
Payments to the Temple can now be made online through the Springhill
Avenue Temple website (springhillavenuetemple.com). All credit card
types are accepted. There is a new clickable “Donations/Dues” tab on the
home page. Once at the payment screen, notations can be made in the
“Invoice” and/or “Note” field. There is a small service fee of 3% for all
credit card payments. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to
contact the Temple Office.
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Announcing a special Saturday evening
Jewish Music with Cantor Mark
February 7th, 2015
7:30 pm
Social Hall
Deserts will be served
Springhill Avenue Temple’s
Purim Celebration
Friday, March 6 – 6:00 p.m.
with a Special Purim Play
Don’t miss the Special Musical Purim Spiel
Also, a Purim dinner hosted by
the Temple’s Sisterhood and Religious School
catered by Tyner’s
The Purim dinner is free of charge, but for planning purposes, please be kind enough to
RSVP by February 24th
Please email or call the Temple office to make your reservations
(478-0415 or [email protected])
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FROM OUR SHALIACH, ARAD LERNER
Shalom Y’all! Tu B’shvat is right
around the corner,
some would call it
“The Jewish Earth
Day”. As a kid it was never
about the dried fruit
for me because, as
some of you who have gotten to know me a
little in the past five months, I am not a big fan
of food from earth (i.e., vegetables), although
Israel is blessed with some of the best fruits
and vegetables on earth (makes you think
maybe this is why the Jewish people celebrate
this holiday). I was more about planting the trees. I liked
working with my hands, but I think more than
that I loved the idea that I took part in
something that is going to stay there forever.
That there is something to take care of and
nurture and then you see it grow. There is a
result to your work and it is beautiful.
In middle school we planted a tree during
school and one of the teachers told us, “Well,
now you can come here with your kids one
day and tell them that you planted that tree”. As someone that really appreciates gestures
like that, I think I finally understood the real
meaning of long term results. Of course, Tu B’Shevat is a reason for the
family to get together and do a “seder”. Tu
B’Shevat focuses on different types of dried
fruit and my mom is a big fan of all the
different kinds of dried fruit that are out there.
So, I would say it is one of her favorite
holidays. In conclusion, there is a nice story that says
that God did not want man to know that he
was going to die one day because then man
would not plant trees and work them. What
would be the purpose? But I think we all
understand that even though we are going to
leave one day, it is important to leave
something good here for our next generations.
The Friday Shabbat Service on January 2nd
The social hall’s new floor had just been polyurethaned and the smell was so strong the Friday Shabbat
service had to be held outside. (photo courtesy of Howard Silverman)
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The Springhill Avenue Temple Sisterhood Annual
CORNED BEEF EXTRAVAGANZA Tuesday, March 17, 2015
*¼ lb. corned beef sandwich on Jewish rye bread
*Kosher dill pickle
*New York style cheese cake
*Bag of chips
*condiments
PREPAID orders only – order deadline is March 10th.
For More Information call or email:
Springhill Avenue Temple at 478-0415
1769 Springhill Ave., Mobile, AL 36607 ---------------------------------------------------------------------
Order Form
I would like to order:___Corned Beef Sandwich Box Lunches
@ $10.00 each = _______ (total enclosed)
Please Make Checks Payable to: Springhill Avenue Temple Sisterhood
Orders can be picked up at Springhill Avenue Temple (10:30 until Noon)
OR DELIVERED (only for orders of 10 or more) Name of Business and Contact:
___________________________________________________________________
Pickup or Delivered? __________________________________________________
Delivery Address:_____________________________________________________
Zip Code:________ Phone Number: ______________________________________
Email Address for confirmation: _________________________________________
Name of Temple Member who sold this order: ______________________________
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YAHRZEIT
It is a true Mitzvah to honor those whose memory we hold dear by attending services
on the Shabbat Yahrzeit (year’s time), joining your congregation in reciting Kaddish,
and the giving of charity in their memory.
February 6 Sylvia Gandler Cohan, Abner Hirsch, Alfred Monheit,
Julian S. Lewis, Jay P. Altmayer, Randy Kushner,
Willis Darby, III, Clyde William Boyd
February 13 Allan Irving Denson, Leonard Herbert Metzger, Jr., Sara Friedlander,
Jan Appelman, Fred Susman, Betty Diemar, Dorothy Nathan Goldman,
Milton F. Rubel, Jr., Hyman Yassem,
Joe Stern
February 20 Louis Lewis, Doris Therese Sidie, Theodore Baer,
Florence Renaud, Sid Magnes, Max Zell
February 27 Maurice “Maury” Gordon, Agnes LeMay, Sylvia Lieberman,
Jesse Scholem, Grace Z. Marlieb, Nathan N. Aronson,
Robert Fuller, Isadore Barkin, Roland Fry,
Mary Alice Levin Brucato
Some Temple Reminders
The Rabbi would very much like to be able to visit our hospitalized and
homebound congregants. Lately, however, due to HIPPA regulations, we
have had a problem with some area hospitals not providing us with
information about our members. If you or someone you know would like the
Rabbi to visit, please call the Temple Office at 251-478-0415 or email
The Temple is available for use by its members for religious affairs and for
receptions following religious occasions and life events. However, for any
event an Activity Reservation Form must be filled out by the member/user
two (2) weeks prior to the actual event. After submission, any changes to the
form must be submitted in writing one (1) week prior to the scheduled event.
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February Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy Birthday To ... 1 Caitlin Brown 13 Jay Altmayer II
2 Sydnie Susman 13 Aaron Solomon
2 Judith Aronson 13 Samantha Zimmerman
2 Adam Miller 15 Phillip Magnes
2 Bill Susman 16 Brion Berman
3 Lisa Magnes 16 Mark Friedlander
4 Rachel Goldberg 16 Perrye Lewis
4 Joanne Koffler 18 Joy Gardberg
4 Enid Laden 19 Gabriel Fry
4 Joel Silverman 19 Margeoux Silverstein
5 Kathryn Friedlander 21 Darbie Sidie
5 Katherine Miles 22 Claire Aycock
5 Helen Small 22 Alan Hirsch
6 Evan Webster 22 Sam Holberg
9 Dolores Loeb 25 Christopher Kinsella
9 Dori Claire Small 26 Diane Frank
11 Janis Friedlander 27 Norma Conrad
11 Larry Miller 27 Max Mutchnick
12 Bobette Friedman
Happy Anniversary To ...
22 Shirley & Joel Silverman
23 Rose & Phillip Brunson
23 Carol & Matt Eberlein
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March Birthdays and Anniversaries
Happy Birthday To ...
1 Kay Friedlander 17 Maxwell Lansky
2 Penny Adamo 17 Bryan Maisel
2 Kathryn Denson 17 Margaret Moore-Nadler
2 John Zelnicker 17 Doris Claire Stein
3 Arthur Denson 18 Amy Friedlander
3 Naomi Gardberg 18 Jill Friedman
3 Mitchell Lawley 19 Christine Hill
3 Daniel Toubiana 19 David Loeser
4 Dale Foster 20 Gilbert Laden
5 Christine Conrad 21 Jennifer Gamble
5 Jennifer Feibelman 21 Jaxon Hall
5 Todd Rich 21 Robert Hyman
6 Danielle Appelman 21 Joanna Kessler
6 Miller Eberlein 22 David Furman
6 Edith Misrok 23 David Cherniak
7 Brian Rich 23 Violet Hirsch
8 Gary Gamble 24 Elliot Borak
9 Matthew Kessler 25 Amelia Miller
9 Wendy Solomon 26 Mary Green
11 Hanna Garden-Monheit 27 Drew Gottleib
11 Phillip Hyman 27 Michelle Schjott
13 Georgina Hall 28 Celia Mutchnick
13 Elaine Holberg 29 Josh Lansky
13 Barbara Lawley 29 Joseph Mishkin
13 Darlin Tolpin 30 Benjamin Holberg
14 Jeff Fink 30 Abigal Klein
16 Jerry Silverstein 31 Ann Bridgeman
16 Arielle Singh
Happy Anniversary To ... 5 Dana & Nathan Handmacher
5 Katie & John Webster
9 Joy & Jonathan Gardberg
10 Melanie & William Susman
17 Diane & Alan Franco
24 Nancy & Richard Hill
26 Audra & Adam Sack
28 Lisa & Eric Lansky
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Donald M. Kunstadt, Rabbi J. Michael Pereira, Second Vice-President
Alan Goldberg, President Aaron Solomon, Treasurer
Alan Hirsch, First Vice-President Liz Fry, Secretary
CALENDAR Torah Study – Wednesdays 5:30 p.m. February 4, 11, 18, and 25 Adult Religious School – Sundays 10:30 a.m. February 1 and 8 Hebrew School – Sundays 8:30 a.m. February 1 and 8
(no classes February 15 or 22) Religious School – Sundays 9:45 a.m. February 1 and 8
(no classes February 15 or 22)
Friday, February 6 6:00 p.m. Tu B’Shevat Service
Cantor is with us
Saturday, February 7 9:30 a.m. Shabbat Breakfast
10:30 a.m. Morning Shabbat Service
7:30 p.m. Jewish Music with Cantor Mark
Friday, February 13 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service
with the Congregational Choir
Friday, February 20 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service
Tuesday, February 24 7:00 p.m. 70th Anniversary of the Liberation of Auschwitz
Bernheim Hall, Ben May Main Library
Friday, February 27 6:00 p.m. Evening Shabbat Service
THE TEMPLE BULLETIN (USPS-
966-900) is published monthly by
Springhill Avenue Temple,
1769 Springhill Avenue
Mobile, AL 36607.
“Periodicals Postage Paid at Mobile,
Alabama.” POSTMASTER:
Send address change to:
1769 Springhill Ave.
Mobile, AL 36607